Sweet treats: Great Roots Forestry Spa Resort

We had a fun and relaxing time during our family visit to Great Roots Forestry Spa Resort. And one of the best things was reliving the experience when we returned home — through a gift pack of mochi and sweet bean cake.

I admit that ‘mung bean cake’ doesn’t sound so appetising, although their name in Chinese (冰心綠豆糕, ice-heart green bean cakes) sounds much more inviting. But this is not some kind of hippy-healthfood that is trying to be a dessert. The soft yellow tiles with their geometric, oriental design are made from a sweetened dried mung bean paste.

A plate of mung bean cakes

The cakes taste of a cross between marzipan and biscuit crumbs, strangely reminiscent of my Nana’s kitchen yet with a distinctly oriental taste. And the little cakes are filled with a smooth mixture made from sweetened red bean taste, that somehow tastes of dates.

A plate of assorted mochi

Even more delicious are Great Roots’ sweet mochi. Mochi (麻糬) are a Japanese sweet made from glutinous rice flour. The version made at The Great Roots Forestry Spa Resort are made with the mineral-rich carbonated hot springs water at the resort. The first time I ate these they were served frozen and only slightly defrosted. I liked the semi-freddo texture, but I preferred them eaten defrosted. Try both and see which you prefer.

Peanut mochi

The mochi we tried came in four flavours: green tea (matcha), black sugar, peanut and black sesame. Their website refers to other flavours such as coffee and red bean. There are a lot of black colours in the selection, but there is a lot of variety in the taste. It is difficult to choose a favourite (an excuse for another taste test?), but if I had to pick I would go for the peanut version as I liked the slightly salty/sweet combination

A gift box of mochi

The Great Roots Forestry Spa Resort is in Sanxia, less than an hour from Taipei and around 30 to 40 minutes from Taoyuan International Airport (237台北縣三峽鎮插角里80號 TEL:(02)-2674-9228). They sell mochi and green bean cakes at a souvenir shop in the foyer to the complex. Alternatively, you can buy online. The green bean cakes cost NT$250 a box, and mochi are NT$25 each.

Gift box of mung bean cakes

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About taiwanxifu

‘Taiwanxifu’ (pronounced ‘shee foo’) means ‘Taiwan daughter-in-law’ in Chinese and has been my nickname ever since I married my Taiwanese husband, Sam. I love sampling Taiwanese food, even local specialties such as stinky tofu, pigs blood cake and Taipei beef noodle soup with offal. But there are many other options on the menu. Promise!